An International Space Station Expedition 14 ARISS school contact has
been planned with students at Juvenile Space Club in Tatsuno,
Tatsunomachi, Nagano-pref, Japan on 24 March. The event is scheduled to
begin at approximately 00:39 UTC.
The contact will be a direct between stations NA1SS and 8J0T. The
contact should be audible in Japan and portions of Eastern Asia.
Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink.
The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.
This rather smaller sized town has about 22,000 in population, is
located about 2,450ft above sea level and surrounded by several
mountains. These mountains are called part of the roof of Japan.
In the town, there are 5 elementary schools and one junior high school.
Because plenty of nature remains, it is good habitable place, but most
children are living in a closed or isolated area, geographically and
even from the information lines. Under these surroundings, 20 children,
gathered from 3 elementary schools, are now ready to make contact with
an astronaut on the ISS, after about 7 months of extra studies.
Before August 2006, they did not know that the ISS existed and several
astronauts are working in space. Of course there was no opportunity to
speak English. After starting extra classroom work, they opened their
eyes for space and took in much knowledge concerning the ISS, Space
Shuttles, Space and English as well, like a sponge sucks up water. The
members consist of 8 girls and 12 boys, who are from 10 years to 12
years old. As you can see, queries made by boys are focused on the
Hardware of ISS and many queries by girls are regarding the human life
in the ISS.
Beginning in April, all 12 year-old children will go to the same junior
high school in the town and subjects like natural science and English
will be started for them. However, those children, who are member of
this Space Club, will enjoy for learning the new subjects because they
already have opened the first door by themselves.
The extra classroom studies were assisted by 8 Amateur Radio Operators
who all of them are quite familiar with the satellite communications. A
special lecture, given by JAXA personnel in the September 2006 has
brought a confidence for them to start new school life.
Students will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. On the ISS, can you watch normal television programs on the earth?
2. In the ISS, is the bath system installed?
3. How do astronauts in the ISS deal with heavy stress built up?
4. How will you do in case of the ISS gets damaged and faces breaking
up?
5. On the ISS which country's time zone is used?
6. Display of the fire works are held on the earth. Can you see those
fire works from the space?
7. After your return to the earth, what will be the very first thing you
do?
8. What is the room temperature inside of the ISS?
9. Do you always wear the same clothes while you are living in the ISS?
10. During your stay for almost half a year in the space, do you not
feel lonely?
11. Has the ISS had ever been struck by meteorites?
12. What is the hardest thing about your work on the ISS?
13. How do you dispose of waste from the ISS?
14. Does you body weight fluctuate during your stay in the ISS?
15. Is it possible to make a phone call from the ISS to anyone on the
earth?
16. How often do you talk to your family over the phone?
17. Have you ever seen shooting stars from the ISS?
18. Do you have time to read books during your stay in the ISS?
19. Was it your dream to be an astronaut when you were a kid?
20. Do you have any wish to have another variety of space foods in the
future, over?
21. Can you now cultivate and eat any vegetable on the ISS?
22. Is it possible to catch other satellite by hand during the space
walk?
23. Did you take any special celebration on the last Christmas day in
the space?
24. I am 12 years old. If I have decided to be an astronaut in my mind,
are there any particular things which I have to do now for it?
25. Why ISS does not maintain more higher altitude from the earth?
Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS is not functioning in the
automatic modes properly and may be silent more than usual. Information
about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact .
Next planned event(s):
International School of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, telebridge via
NN1SS Tue 2007-03-27 13:45 UTC
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the
participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES,
JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating
countries.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of
Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the
International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see,
first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize
youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further
information on the ARISS program is available on the website
http://www.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of
Canada).
Thank you & 73,
Kenneth - N5VHO